Kingsgate Hotel Terraces, Queenstown

Advantages: New Zealand scenery at its best
Disadvantages: Some say a bit pricey!!!

...a look at the trout which swim around the pier or meandering up into the hills to watch a day in the life of Queenstown. There is a bit of a goldmining theme going on in Queenstown, so there are attractions which take you back in time when Chinese and other hopeful's scoured the rugged hills and dangerous, torrential rivers for that precious ore. Actually, Queenstown exists due to these hardy goldminers. It's history goes back to times when the Maori also searched - for Pouanamu (greenstone, or jade) and the Moa bird (now extinct!). Along came the goldminers, who needed a place to settle, so they did; around 1860 Queenstown became a goldminers' camp. It is much more than that today. It is a vibrant, day or night, town which really does move. Bus tours by the dozens bring international travellers to plush hotels, motels, while... Read review

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Advantages: Something for Everyone, Lots to do, Stunning Scenary
Disadvantages: Not cheap, need to book accommodation in advance

...in a gondola is a nice trip with great views. Many people staying in Queenstown take a trip to the beautiful Milford Sound (a long day out) and there are plenty of tour operators offering coach / helicopter trips there. There is a wide range of accommodation options on offer from backpacker / youth hostel / camping to very upmarket hotels and self-catering apartments. Whatever your budget, accommodation is worth booking in advance. This applies all year round but is especially true in the peak winter (ski) and high summer seasons. Travel to the region is fairly easy. Queenstown has an airport and both Air New Zealand and Qantas offer some direct international flights to Queenstown itself. Domestic flights to Queenstown are offered from most airports and are operated by Air New Zealand, Qantas and Origin Pacific. Plenty of coach / hop... Read review

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Advantages: comfortable quiet rooms,hotel situated conveniently for access to the City CBD, and 20 minutes maximum from Auckland International Airport
Disadvantages: poor timing on our part, we arrived at reception early evening just after 2 parties,quite a wait as a result

...We arrived at Auckland International Airport from Fiji in late afternoon.It took a while to clear immigration and customs,and ,more prolonged, to clear the checks of the NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Quarantine service, as we had 2 wood based gift products purchased in Nadi. Hire car,courtesy of EZY,was picked up from the airport information desk and airport car park. The 3 star hotel was reached via an easy drive on good quality dual carriageway roads ( the South Western Motorway and Hugh Watt Drive) in 20 minutes, and through the Royal Oak district. Greenlane is a pleasant leafy residential suburb of Auckland, adjacent to Cornwall park. There is a good bus service into central Auckland, and importantly the hotel is well placed for access to the Southern Motorway which we used to head south to Rotorua.Central Auckland... Read review

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